Rail drilling machine



June 4,1940. F. C. LAvARAcK-m; 2,203,415

RAIL DRILLING MACHINE .original Filed May 7. 193s 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 yN TOR ,m

ATTRNEY June 4, 1940. F. c. LAvARAcK ET Al.

RAIL DRILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 7, 1936 Qw Q.

HIHHIH um June 4, 1940. F. c. LAvARAcK Er AL 2,203,415

RAIL DRILLING MACHINE Original Filed May '7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNE June 4, 1940k F. c. I AvARAcK E1'. AL 2,203,415

HAIL DRILLING MACHINE original Filed May 7. i956 ATTORNE Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,203,415 RAIL DRILLING MACHINE original application May 7, 1936, serial No. l78,370. Divided and this application March 21, 1938, Serial No. 197,150

Claims.

This invention relates to new and `useful im` provements in drilling machines and has parj ticular reference to a machine for drilling railroad rails.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, durable, eicient device which can be quickly and easily attached to the head of a railroad rail for the purpose of drilling holes `therein atproper predetermined points. These 11.9 holes are put in the rail preferably at the side an` apparatus inwhich the parts can be quickly manipulated l to adjust the device with proper relation to the rail and to adjust the drill with relation `to the point of drilling.

A still further object is to provide means where-` by the depth of a hole to be drilled can be predetermined and quickly attained withoutany liability to drill too deep a hole.

2 A further object is to provide simple and efficient means whereby` in the event of an approaching train, the device can be quickly and easily removed fromthe rail without a liability of any confusion in the mind of the operator causing delay in such removal.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from a consideration of the specification hereinafter when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and which illustrate a present preferred form of the invention. i

In the general contemplation of the invention, itis to be observed that it includes a frame comprising a plurality of plates which can be set on top of a rail and having a plurality of `cooperating elements which can be `manually op` erated with speed and efficiency to grip `the rail and hold the device thereon after the apparatus 4'5 has been adjusted in the proper angular relation to the rail. Simple manipulatable elements per--4 mit the rail and its operating elements to be adjusted `both vertically and horizontally in a simple and easy manner so as to align the drill with the point at which the hole is to be made in the rail.` Equally simple manipulatable ele- `ments permit the drill itself to be advanced to the working point by hand and then to be delinitely connected to operatable gearing so as to be rotated to drill and advance slowly as the drill-` ing takes place. The rotation of the drill is effected by a `crank connection operated by the `person controlling the apparatus. A simple gage arrangement connected with the Idrill permits the exact depth of a hole to beachieved without over running.

The crank for rotating the drill in its working functions is rotated in a predetermined direction. The manipulatable element employed to u advance the drill by hand to the work point is preferably rotated in the opposite direction and consequently this element, in order to withdraw the drill from the rail must be rotated in the same direction as the main crank is moved in drilling. because asthe operator is turning the main crank to drill he may `at any moment be required to remove the device from `the rail in a hurry and in order to do this he merely has to transfer his hand from the main handle to the auxiliary mavr nipulating` device and keep on rotating it in the same directionl, This simplicity of operativerelation thus prevents any psychological confusion which might result if the rotations of these elements to achieve the above mentioned results were other than stated.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of elements to insure, in the adjustifient of the parts, that'the drill is always kept in the proper angular relation to the work even though it is moved for adjustment to a new position. A further featureof the invention concerns a simple construction whereby the reactive thrust ofthe drill is properly compensated for.

This particular feature is important` v The preferred form of the invention is shown vertical cross-section taken on the line III- III of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the machine and enlarged; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line `VII-VII of Fig. 6. l

As shown in the drawings the preferred form ofthe invention involves a machine which is to be applied to the head of a rail Il! for the purpose of drilling holes in the side of the rail head to receive the ends of electrical conductors forming the electrical circuit bonds between the ends of adjacent rails. This apparatus includes a plate Il which is disposed on top of the rail and has `a longitudinal vertical wall I2 and side end walls i3 and I4 together with downwardly depending feet l5 and i6 and rearwardly extending wings l il and i8 having longitudinally disposed ears I9' and with faces disposed parallel to the side 21 walls s3' and m. A threaded shaft zaextends horizontally between the walls i3 and |.4 and at one end there is fixed thereto a hand wheel 24 whereby the shaft 23 may he turned. The

threads on the shaft 23 are not threaclably'engaged with the walls I3 and i4 but are free vto acts as a bearing for a collar 28 on the upper` end of 'a depending bar 29. At its lower end this bar is provided with a set-screw 39 extending toward the adjacent side face of the rail head I0. The bar 29 is provided with an opening 3| through which a bolt 324 extends. This bolt extends throughu an opening in the plate l2 and hasy its head '33 lying back of said opening. The opposite end of the bolt ,32 is provided with suitable nuts 34 adjacent to the lower end 35 of operating arm onyhandle 3S. The face of the handle 3E at its lower end adjacent the bar 29 is provided with cam surfaces 3l cooperating with similar cam surfaces 38 on the adjacent face of the bar A29. A spring 39 extends between the wall l2 and the opposite face of the bar 29 tending to swing the bar 29 around the tube 21 always to the left, as

Viewed in Fig. l., whereby the v tendency is to move the set-screw 3|laway from the face of the rail. It,y willgbe observed that by moving the handle 39 in one direction the Vbar 29 will be swung to the -right against the action of spring t 39 to Vengage the yset-screw Si!) with the rail whereas movement in the opposite direction will releasev the cams and permit the spring 39 to move the bar 29 and the set-screw 39 away from the rail. The dependent feet I9 and l5 on the rail engaging plate I will be seen in Fig. 1 cooperatingwith the opposite' face ofk the rail and withthe set-screw to firmly clamp the plate in any desired position at the top of the rail and this operation can be effected very quickly and easily by the manipulation vof the handle 25.

A `quick movement ofthe handle in one direction desired position has been assumed and will as quickly release the plate so that the whole device may be lifted from the `rail in a second.

As shown in Fig. 3, there is formed a rectangular shaped open frame 49 having spaced vertical limbs and horizontal connecting members. This frame, as seen particularly in Fig. 4, has forwardly extending apertured lugs 4| and 42 adapted to embrace and slide along the tubular members 2| and It also has a forwardly projecting apertured lug d3 interiorly threaded to engage with the threaded rod'or shaft 23.

Therefore the turning ofthe shaft 23 will `move the lug` horizontally along the shaft and there-y by move the frame til horizontally in a direction which is designed to be parallel to the side face of the rail. This parallel motion is insured by ,isprovided with a hand or Wingnut 49.

the engagement ofthe lugs 4| and 42 slidably with the tubular lmembers 2| and 22.

As shown in Fig; 3, the frame 49 is provided with two spaced rods or tubular members 44 and lili spaced parallel to each other and vertically `mounted on a secondary shaftv 18.

pieces threadablyvbut theshaft is free to turn in the cross pieces. A pedestal member 49 shown in Fig. 1, has a forwardly extending Vvertical flange or plate 5f) onfwhich is disposed an enlargedhead 9| in horizontal position.l rihis head 55| has apertures through which the rods 44 and i5 Yand the threaded shaft 46 pass. The shaft 46 is threadablyuengaged with itsbore ink the head 5| so that the turning of the wing nut 48 will turn the shaft 46 and vertically move the head 5l in a fixed vertical direction guided by the action of the engagement between the head 5| and the rods 44 and 45. In Athis manner therefore pedestal member 49 can be vertically ad-v cupsrof bearing members 54 and 55 fastened in 'l any desired m'annerto the wings i9 and 29 bear against the adjacent facesof the lower end of the pedestal member 49 which is thus additionally guided in its vertical movement. l

To thelower rear face of the pedestal vor frame member 49 a casing 55 is bolted. This casing ycontains the drilling device and its operative mechanism. To the rear of this casing the lugs 5l and 53 are attached land these lugs act as bearingA members for legs 59 and 59 which can be adjusted in their bearings andv rest on the tie 6| at their lower ends to support the' drilling casing at its outer end in the desired right `angular position with respect to the rail.

The drill 652 isr fastened by set-,screwA 63 in the end of a shaft 64 which is journallediin a 'bearing in the lower end of flange member 99 and in a ball bearing unit 65 in the end of casing 56. The outer end' of this shaft 6d is threaded at Ei to Y receive a gage element 91 in the form of a hollow sleeve adjustably threaded on to the shaft fili' and having' a plurality ,ofv longitudinal slots 63 therein. By threading the gageonto the shaft so that the end of the drill extends beyond the end ofthe gage the desired amount, the depth of the hole to be drilled canbe accurately deter mined. When the gage is set in the required position then the set-screw is adjusted in the nearest slot to'hold the gage in this position and to hold the drill in the end of the shaft. A gear 99 is fastened to shaft M by key 'illslidable in .a key way H which extends the 'full length of the shaft B4. This permits the shaft 5t to rotate with the Y rgear but permits the shaft to slide longitudinally with respect thereto. The gear 69 is engaged by a chain 'l2 extending upwardly around a toothed wheel i3 rotatably fastened to the rflange member i9 and operable by means of a' handle 74. The movable member 'l5 ofthe ball bearing unit 95 is rotatable with the shaft |541-l through the key "it and a gear 'i5 is fastened to the shaft 64 by the key 'F9' and meshes with ar gear 'l1 Aloosely A smaller gear 19 is fastened tothe gear Ti and rotates therewith and meshes witha larger gear 89 inde? pendently rotatable on shaft 94. A smaller gear 9| is fastened to gear 89 around shaft 64 and meshes with a larger gear 32 fastened to a hub 83 which is fastened to the secondary shaft 18.

At the other end of shaft 'i9 is fastened thereto a gear 94 which meshes with a gear 95 fastened to a rotatable nut 86. This nut is journalled in the opposite endv of the casing 99 in a ball bearing unit 81. This nut 99 is interiorly threaded to engage with the exterior threads 8S on an auxiliary shaft V89 which extends outwardly through fastened thereto" a handle 9| by means of which "the auxiliary shaft can be turned when desired.

The auxiliary shaft 89 is provdedwith a long notch or slot 92 (see Fig. 5) into which a latch pin 93 is adapted to extend. This pin is backed by a spring 94 in a laterally disposed boss 95 attached to the hub 9|). A handle 96 is fastened tothe outer end of theflatchpin 93 and has a tongue 9I adapted in certain positions to lie in a slot 98 on the top of the boss. In Fig. 5, the latch pin is shown withdrawn from the groove 92 so that the auxiliary shaft 89 can be turned by handle 9|, but when the groove 92 is lined up with the end of latch pin 93 and the handle 99 is turned `to permit tongue 91 to extend into the slot 98 then the spring 94 will `force the pin 93 forwardto lie in the groove 92 and lock the auxiliary shaft 89 against rotation so that thereafter it can not be manually operated 'but is ready to be moved longitudinally forward by the `action of the rotatable nut 86.

The shaft 64 and the auxiliary shaft 99 are `associated and are axially aligned. The inner end of shaft 64 is provided with a bore 99 into which is screwed a hollow sleeve |99 having a head |9|. A threaded bolt |92 has its head |93 lying in the bore 99 and extending through the hollow sleeve to`be threaded into the end of auxiliary shaft89 and fastened therein by a setscrew |04. Around the shouldered end of auxiliary shaft 89 is disposed a ball thrust bearing unit |95 one element of which bears against a shoulder on an end of auxiliary shaft 99, the other element of which bears against the adjacent head IIlI of the hollow sleeve |99. This i thrust` bearing between the two sections 64 and 89 will take up the reaction or thrust of the drill along the shaft as the drilling operation takes place. v

In the operation of the device it becomes desirable to place the apparatus in a proper position with respect to the top of the rail, in order that a suitable hole of predetermined depth can be bored in the rail head. To this end the hand handle 36 isturned in the necessary direction to move the set-screw 3|) away from the drill 92 and the machineis placed so that the plate I I lies `on top of the rail as shown in Fig. l.

The legs 59 and 69 are then adjusted to support the rear `end of the machine at the proper height to give the desired axial slope tothe drill. When the `proper angle is obtained, the handle 36 is turned in the opposite direction to forcethe head screw 39 against the rail and thus cooperate with the feet I5 and I8 to hold the machine firmly in position on the rail head.

Before the machine is actually put on top of the rail the gage 68 has been adjusted on the shaft 64 so that the Vproper length of the drill 62 ex- `tends beyond the end of the gage depending upon the handle is necessary in order to retract the` the depth of the hole which it is desired to drill. The latch pin 93 is withdrawn from the notch 92 in the shaft 89 by pulling the handle 99 outwardly and giving it a quarter turn so that `it assumes the position shown in Fig. 5. With drill from the work and consequently a counter clock motion of the handle 9| is necessary to manually advance the drill to the work. This rea train comes along it is necesary to remove the machine from the rail with great rapidity. To do this it is merely necessary to swing the handle 39 to release the set-screw 39, then the hand is taken off thehandle 'i4 and grasps the handle 9| and continues to turn it in the same direction, namely, clockwise to withdraw the drill. This permits the operator to change from one handle to another and continue his hand motion in the same direction to achieve the required high speed of the removal of `the device from` the rail. If it were necessary [or the operator to think or remember that the handlel 9| should be moved in a different direction than the handle 'M in removing the device from the rail, it would tend to cause confusion.

Assuming then that the device has been adjusted inthe proper position and fastened to the rail head the handle 9| is turned in a counterclock direction toadvance the drill to the face ofthe rail. Then the latch pin 93, by turning the handle 99, is allowed to drop into the notch 92. This prevents the rotation of shaft 89 by manual means but makes it ready for movement through the nut 86. At the same time the nut 48 is turned to adjust the `drill at the proper vertical level with respect to the rail and the handle 24 is turned to similarly adjust the drill vat the proper point in the horizontal plane.

power independent of whether the axial shaft` 89 is rotating or not. As the drilling continues the front face of `the gage 6l will eventually abut the face of the rail and prevent further advancement of the drill.

` Although a principal use of the machine may well be the forming of an orice in the head of the rail, it is to be understood that the machine is also adapted for drilling anl orice in the web of the rail. When it is desired to drill an oriiice in the web of the rail the drill is adjusted to the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. which shows the drill after it has passed through the web of the rail. This adjustment is obtained by means of the screw `49 and the wing nut 48. When drilling the web of the rail it will be unnecessary to use the gage 6'! and consequently it is screwed backso as to allowthe drill to pass entirely through the web. The clamping, operating and removal of the machine is the same when drilling the web of `the rail as when drilling the head of the rail. It will therefore be seen that this inventio contemplates `a simple rugged, efficient device which canbe operated in a simple easy manner. Even an unskilled workman could very quickly and readily adjust it `onto the rail `and as quickly and easily remove it therefrom. The adjustments to `set the device on the rail and to adjust the drill in the Yproper position with respect to the work points` are achieved by very few and very simple manual operations, therefore, the

timerequired to drill the rails is reduced to a operating the device is also reduced to a minimum. t .A

While the invention has been described in detailand with respect to a present preferred form thereof it is not to be limited to such details and forms since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without.

departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence it is desired Vto cover any and all forms and modications of the invention which may come within the language or scope of any one or more ofthe appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

l. A rail drilling apparatus which comprises a plate member adapted to be'disposed upon the tread face of a rail; an upright bracket mounted rigidly upon said plate member, and supporting iixed horizontal guides; a rst upright crosshead movablehorizontally upon said guides in substantially an upright longitudinal plane of the rail, and having upright guides in a plane parallel with that oi said horizontal guides; a second cross-head movable substantially verti cally upon said upright guides; a drill-head connected xedly with said system of crossheads and adjustable therewith to dispose the drill at `any desired point at the side of the rail; means adapted to be engaged adjustably with the track structure adjacent to the rail to support `the free end of said dril-head with said drill presented along anaxis normal 'to the plane of a rail face to be drilled, and readily attachable-detachable means to clamp said plate member to said rail head.

2. A rail drilling apparatus which comprises a plate member adapted to be disposed upon the tread face of a rail; an upright bracket mounted rigidly upon said plate member, and supporting fixed horizontalvguides; a rst upright crossf-head movable horizontally upon said guides in substantially an upright longitudinal plane oi the rail, and having upright guides in a plane parallel with that of said horizontal'guides; a second cross-head movable substantially vertically upon said upright guides; a drill-head connected fixedly with said system of cross-heads and adjustable therewith to disposethe drill at any desired point at the side of the rail; a pair of independently adjustable legs adapted to be engaged adjustably with the track structure adjacent to the rail to support the free end of said drill-head with said drill presented along an axis normal to the plane of a rail face kto be drilled; and readily attachable-detachable means' to clamp lsaid plate member to said rail head; said clamping'means, cross-heads and drill-head being disposed preponderantly at and above the plane of the drilling operation, and the entire structure being adapted to be secured to the rail head exclusively by said readily detachable clamp, and constituting a unitary structure easily transportable and operable by a single operative.

3. A rail drilling apparatus which comprises a member adapted to be disposed across the top of the rail; a quick throw manually operable'means to clamp said member to the rail; two rearwardly and laterally extending wings on said member each provided with an ear at the end thereof; a support on said member adapted to extend. up-

wardly above the rail; a drill frame adapted to be supported by said support; manually operable l position clamped to the rail; manually operable means for adjusting the support vertically in a right line in a vertical plane at a right angle to the rail to be rdrilled while said member retains its position clamped to the rail; said horizontal and vertical adjustments permitting the drill frame to be moved to different drilling positions after a single setting of said member; and said supportprovided with downwardly and laterally extending wings positioned in Contact with the iirst mentioned wings whereby the support including the drill frame is guided and supported by the wings of the member. y

4. A rail drilling apparatus which comprises a member adapted to be disposed across the top of the rail; means for rigidly clamping said member to the rail; a pair of spaced side walls positioned transversely to the rail rising from said member; a pair of guiding tubes substantially horizontally positioned extending between said side walls; a substantially rectangular open frame provided with forwardly extending aperture lugs surrounding said tubesv and supported and guided thereby; a pedestal member having a forwardly extending enlarged head positioned within said frame; a pair of tubular members supported by the said frame and passing through the said head guiding the said head; vsaid frame having a forwardly extending lug positioned between the said side walls; 'said lug provided with an internal thread and a threaded member passing therethrough and through the two side walls and being provided with means for preventing movement longitudinally relatively to the side walls and provided with means for rotation thereof whereby the transverse frame may be moved relatively away from and toward each side wall; said transverse frame providedwith a threaded rod passing through opposite sides of the transverse frame and restrained from movement longitudinally in respect thereto and adapted to be rotated, said head of 4said pedestal member pro-- vided with a through bore formed with a thread throughr which the last mentioned threaded rod passes whereby the pedestal member may be moved toward and away from the sides of the frame through which the last mentioned threaded rod extends; and a drill head provided with a drill and means for operating the drill secured to the pedestal member whereby the drill may be positioned at a desired spot on the rail preparatory to drilling therein. n

5. In a rail drilling apparatus, incombination: a plate adapted to rest upon ther top of a rail and provided with means for clamping to the rail; said plate provided with rearwardly and laterally extending wings each provided with an ear; a pedestal supporting a drill head, said pedestal provided with downwardly and outwardly extending wings positioned to contact with said ears; means to adjust the pedestal in each of two right lines at a right angle to each other in a plane parallel with the face of the ears whereby the pedestal is supported against tilting and guided at its lower end by the ears.

FREDERICK C'. LAVARACK. BENJAMIN SCHLESINGER. 

